Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Christian Clyde Fisher was born in Wrabness Essex, England in April 1887 to parents Edward Francis and Elizabeth Fisher (nee Porter) who were married in May 1868 at All Saints Church Wrabness. Christian was one of twelfth siblings with six sisters and five brothers, one whom was a half-brother. Christian was the ninth sibling.
 
Christian was baptised at the All-Saints Church in June 1887. He attended the National school in Wrabness. It was in 1894 Christian’s mother died when he was aged seven. His father re married in December 1896 to a Susannah Parish. In 1897 Christian’s half-brother was born.
 
Christian served with the 5th Essex Battalion Territorial Infantry Force for two years when he resigned in 1911 and immigrated to Perth Western Australia, he was 24 years of age when he immigrated. His movements in Western Australian are not well known, but it is recorded that he moved to Wickepin near Narrogin working as a labourer with the West Australian Government Railways.
 
It was in July 1915 that Christian enlisted into the A.I.F. conducting his medical in Wickepin on 17th July 1915 where he was declared fit for service on enlistment into the A.I.F. Christian recorded his next of kin as his father in Wrabness Essex, England.

It was on 22nd July 1915 that he attended at Blackboy Hill training camp conducting his basic training attached to 32nd Battalion. Two companies C and D of 32nd Battalion were formed at Blackboy Hill. It was in September 1915 that these two companies sailed from Fremantle for Adelaide South Australia to join A and B companies to form the remainder of the battalion which had been raised at Adelaide, forming part of the 8th Brigade.
 
Christian embarked from Adelaide, South Australia in November 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong A2, attached to D Company. Arriving in Egypt in December 1915 where the battalion conducted further training at Tel-el-Kebir. In March 1916 he was admitted to the No 15 Field Ambulance with influenza before embarking to France in June 1916. On arrival in France Christian was sent Morbecque near Hazebrouck in northern France.

It was in July 1916 that Albert with the battalion moved to their billets at Fleurbaix in preparation for an assault on the German trenches at Fromelles. The plan was to use Brigades from the Australian Fifth Division to conduct a diversionary assault of the German trenches at Fromelles.

The Australian 8th Brigade which 32nd Battalion was a part of along with 31st Battalion were to assault the German trenches on the left flank crossing only 100 metres of no man’s land to get the trenches. The 32ndBattalion was on the extreme left flank their job made more difficult, not only did they have to protect themselves, but advancing on the German lines they had to block off the Germans on their left, to stop them from coming around behind them whilst advancing. The assault was due to commence at 6pm on 19th July 1916.

Christian in D Company along with B Company formed the third and fourth waves of the attack. Even before the attack commenced the Australians not only suffered casualties from the German artillery but also from their own inexperienced Australian artillery who lacked the skills to provide artillery cover for the assault.
With the 32nd and 31st Battalions commencing their assault and suffering heavy casualties, against all odds the men were able to capture the German frontline trenches opposite them. Pushing onto their final objective, the support trenches they failed to find these trenches which turned out to be ditches or abandoned trenches overgrown with grass and half full of water. The failure to locate these trenches was due to the poor planning by the commanders who had selected the final objective for the 8th Brigade. It came down to the reading of unreliable aerial maps that were taken in the previous year of 1915 when the Germans first dug these trenches.

With the 32nd Battalion suffering heavy casualties from continued German counter attacks during the night, the German infantry were able to penetrate the gaps in the Australian lines. The Australians maintained their positions until about 3.45am before being surrounded. It was at this time the Australians decided to withdraw from the trenches to fight their way back to their lines.
There are two reports by the Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing files of Christian’s fate during the attack.
 
Private Mathew 1316, 32nd Battalion states, ‘in December 1916 that Fisher was reported as having been severely wounded as the company fell into a German trap were the wounded men had to be left’.
 
Private Redmond 1351 of 32nd Battalion D Company states, in February 1917, ‘he saw Fisher last in no man’s land at the beginning of the attack. He was hit by shrapnel and killed. Several other men saw the occurrence. Redmond states he saw seven of the missing men in his battalion killed’.
 
Initially Private Christian Clyde Fisher was reported as missing. Enquiries were even made to see if he was taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans. Red Cross File recorded “No Trace Germany”. Australian’s who did reached the German trenches, where captured and taken prisoner.
 
Private Jenkinson 3168 states in Red Cross file that, he saw Christian in England at a Convalescent Camp Perham Downs Salisbury Plains after coming from hospital, wounded. Describing him as tall, thin young about 24 years and clean shaven.
 
This however turned out to be mistaken identity with Christian’s sister, Lydia describing his description as the reverse, as being short and stout with dark hair and his age was 28 years.
 
It was not until a court of inquiry was held “in the field” on 12th August 1917 that Private Christian Clyde Fisher of 32nd Battalion D Company was pronounced as killed in action on the 20th July 1916. He has no known grave and remains as missing. He is commemorated at VC Corner Australian Military Cemetery, Fromelles France.

He was 29 years of age.